Wednesday Vignette - Whispering Hope

Wednesday Vignette is hosted by the multi-talented Anna at Flutter and Hum.  To see her WV and those of other participating bloggers, click here. 

I let my artichokes bloom as they're so beautiful in flower.  The spent blooms remain ornamental through the winter.  Two years ago, as the new growth emerged from the ground, I cut the seed heads but they still looked interesting so I threw this one in a pot where it sat all summer.  With the recent arrival of so much rain in our big storms, the seeds must have thought it was time to start growing. 

Isn't nature wonderful?  From decay and death comes new life.  There's always hope.  Of course, these will probably freeze to death unless I take them inside the greenhouse, but I digress.

Soft as the voice of an angel

Breathing a lesson unheard,

Hope with a gentle persuasion

Whispers her comforting word;

Wait till the darkness is over, 

Wait till the tempest is done,

Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,

After the shower is gone.

Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice

Making my heart in it's sorrow rejoice.

If in the dimness of twilight,

Dim be the region afar,

Will not the deepening darkness

Brighten the glimmering star?

Then when the night is upon us, 

Why should the heart sink away?

When the dark midnight is over,

Watch for the breaking of day.

Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice

Making my heart in it's sorrow rejoice.

                    -Septimus Winner, 1868

I do love schmaltz.  In case you missed the big hit of this duet in 1949 (Released as a 78 record.) Here's a recording.